Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• The Prime Minister advised the leadership of municipalities not to participate in Victory Day celebrations
• Anonymous person threatens to blow himself on the celebration on 9 May in Riga
• Riga City Council banned the Russian March planned to be held on 9 May in the centre of Riga
• Government granted nearly EUR 700,000 to the Latvian Television for improvement of its content in Russian language
• Latvijas Avize interviews a well known Latvian writer and publicist Marina Kostenecka
• MP Vineta Porina proposes to grant the Ministry of Education the right to dismiss allegedly disloyal school directors
• Un-known persons placed a sign “Judenfrei” on a fence of a kindergarten owned by a member of the nationalists’ union Imants Paradnieks

The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma called upon the heads of local governments not to participate in 9 May celebrations arguing that this day is connected to the occupation of Latvia. Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement, the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs stated that he will take part in the ceremony of laying flowers on 9 May and advised Mrs Straujuma to delegate a representative of the government to address the people who will come to the Victory monument rather than pretend that tens of thousands of people who celebrate Victory Day do not exist. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs and editors of electronic and printed mass media received an anonymous letter from a person who warns that he will blow himself if the celebration of 9 May (Victory Day) will be arranged near the monument to the Soviet Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. Following the threat, the Security Police recommended the state police to draw special attention to the security measures during the event. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The Riga City Council banned the Russian March planned to be held by an organisation “Rodina.lv” (Motherland – translation from Russian) on 9 May in the centre of Riga. According to the organisers, the march is planned in support of Russian language schools. Diena reports that the Security Police recommended the City Council to ban the event as there are risks of public disorders and provocation and no guarantees that the organisers of the event will be able to insure order. The newspaper also notes that a video on a web site of the organisation “Rodina.lv” calling to take part in the Russian March says that “Russians are ancient local constituent people in Latvia”, “Russian language is Latvia’s language”, and “Russians do not surrender.”

Yesterday, the government granted EUR 682,399 to the Latvian Television (LTV) for improvement of its content in Russian language. According to the head of the National Council on Electronic Mass Media Ainars Dimants, the funding will be spent on production and broadcast of content in Russian language on channel LTV7, Latvian Radio Chanel 4 and internet portal of Latvian public media lsm.lv. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Latvijas Avize interviews a well known Latvian writer and publicist Marina Kostenecka about Russian speaking residents of Latvia in the context of current events in the world. M. Kostenecka believes that the majority of Latvian Russians do not sympathise radicals who want to split the society but they would trust those who are listening to their needs. She also believes that such step as granting Orthodox Christmas status of a bank holiday or writing medicaments prescriptions in Russian language would be a symbolic gesture towards Russian speaking residents and be more effective and much cheaper tool of integration than all the elaborated integration programs. M.Kostenecka also believes that Latvian Russians are not ready for Maidan in Latvia and do not want such chaos as in Ukraine. She stresses that  the politicians should abstain from provoking Russian speakers, for instance, they should stop raising issue of transition of education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language as it is very sensitive issue and might provoke large protests.

Member of the Saeima’s Education, Culture and Science Committee Vineta Porina (nationalists’ union) proposes to grant the Ministry of Education the right to take final decision on dismissal of school directors in cases when director’s professionalism is doubtful. Presently such decision is the competence of local government. V.Porina alleges that there are municipalities in Latvia governed by pro-Russian parties which might not be interested to act if the school’s management is not loyal to Latvian state. Head of the Saeima’s Education, Culture and Science Committee Dana Reizniece-Ozola and the Minister of Education Ina Druviete do not support such proposal arguing that the Ministry already has wide enough rights.

Neatkariga and Vesti Segodnya reports that un-known persons placed a sign “Judenfrei” on a fence of a kindergarten owned by the MP and member of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM Imants Paradnieks. Leader of the Union against Nazism Janis Kuzins complained to the police about such sign and distributed a photo where such sign is seen through the Internet. According to J. Kuzins, person who sent him this photo asserted that it was on the fence since 4 May. I.Paradnieks, in his turn, explained that such sign was put intentionally as a provocation.